November 12, 2020

Gunnedah Mayor Jamie Chaffey has welcomed a draft determination from the NSW Electoral Commission’s Boundary Review that Gunnedah Shire remain in the state seat of Tamworth.

The report, released on Monday, identified Gunnedah as a growth shire, with the population expected to increase before 2029.

Cr Chaffey said the draft report was great news for Gunnedah.

“In July, there was unanimous support from Gunnedah Shire Councillors to make a submission to the review arguing for Gunnedah to stay in the state seat of Tamworth,” he said.

“Council had been made aware that the NSW Electoral Commission had received a number of proposals that would see Gunnedah Shire moved from the Tamworth electorate into the Barwon electorate.

“While it was disappointing to see politically motivated submissions pursuing the redistribution of Gunnedah, I am reassured that a pragmatic result has been achieved. This is a common sense decision that reflects the needs of local residents.

“There are solid arguments for Gunnedah remaining in the Tamworth electorate. Our nearest largest medical centre is in Tamworth, our air services connections to Brisbane and Sydney are via the Tamworth Airport, and our police services fall under the Oxley District Command which is based in Tamworth.

“Gunnedah Shire is a member of Namoi Unlimited – the joint organisation of councils working together in partnership across the Namoi region, and four out of five of those members are in the Tamworth electorate. Namoi Unlimited helps councils to collaborate, plan, set priorities and deliver important projects in regional NSW.

“It just makes sense for Gunnedah to remain in the Tamworth electorate. We are really pleased to see that this week’s report recognises that.

“It’s also good to see Gunnedah recognised as an area of growth, a forecast that supports our own expectations for the future.”

To read the Report of the Electoral Districts Redistribution Panel on the draft determination of the names and boundaries of electoral districts of New South Wales, visit elections.nsw.gov.au/redistribution

ENDS

Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.